We’ve arrived at one of the biggest and best programs of the Melbourne Autumn Carnival – it’s 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes Day!
Three Group 1 feature races headline a ten-strong program, and with so much talent engaged, we’re going to be treated to some terrific betting contests.
I’ve run the rule over the lot, and you can find all of my Caulfield best bets, including 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes tips below.
We were with SWEETHEARTED in a similar race here last time out and I am going to give him another chance on Blue Diamond Day.
Sweethearted has missed placing just once in four trips to the races this time in, winning a good BM84 race at Geelong back in January, while he worked home well to fill the minors last time out.
He’s in peak order this week and looks to get favourable conditions again.
| 3. Sweethearted (8) Scratched: | |||
The Zeditave Stakes looks a great race for the second up PALLATON, in my opinion.
The Wootton Bassett colt has always hinted at above-average ability, and he ended his last prep with a nice win down the straight at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Having trialled up well, he was far from disgraced when fourth amongst open-grade sprinters in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes here a fortnight ago and with natural improvement and getting back into three-year-olds company, I think he gets plenty of ticks.
| 3. Pallaton (2) J: Craig Williams 56kg 621×4 T: Michael Freedman |
TAKEN takes winning form into the Victoria Gold Cup and this looks a lovely feature race for him.
Taken ended his last prep with four consecutive race wins, and he picked up where he left off with an eye-catching effort over 1400m here back in November.
A rare flat performance in the Ladbrokes Supernova in December saw him freshened up, and he returned to action to strike again over 1700m here last month.
With natural improvement and out to the 2000m with Jamie Melham retaining the ride, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish again.
| 4. Taken (5) J: Jamie Melham 55kg 1×101 T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
It’s often a key form race ahead of the Australian Oaks & Derby up in Sydney and a classy field of three-year-olds will contest the Autumn Classic, including OUR CHIEF.
Our Chief has undoubtedly returned to the races an improved horse this time in, and after winning over 2000m at Flemington two starts back, we were with him when he dropped back down to this trip last time out and was only just denied.
He’s hard fit and should receive a nice run from gate 7.
| 3. Our Chief (6) J: Michael Dee 57kg x3213 T: Danny O’brien |
SHEZA ALIBI makes her eagerly awaited returned in Saturday’s Angus Armanasco Stakes field.
Having launched her career in central Queensland, Sheza Alibi’s first campaign in Melbourne during the spring was excellent and saw her chase home Tentyris first up before winning her two subsequent starts impressively.
With some lofty targets set this time in, I have no doubt she’ll improve for whatever she does produce here, but I think her class with carry her a long way towards winning regardless.
| 1. Sheza Alibi (1) J: Zac Spain 58.5kg x311x T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
DAMASK ROSE is second up and primed to strike in the Mannerism.
She was outstanding in her native New Zealand during her three-year-old campaign, and while she didn’t bring that form to Australia during the spring, she worked home well to finish second in the Group 3 Bellmaine here three weeks ago.
With natural improvement, I think she’s perfectly placed to go one better, and she my best bet on the program.
| 5. Damask Rose (2) J: Craig Williams 57kg 760×2 T: Mark Walker |
Some of the season’s most exciting horses will step out in the 2026 Futurity Stakes field including TREASURETHE MOMENT, who I’ve got on top.
She was one of Australia’s standout performers in 2025, winning three Group 1 races, including the Memsie over this route when resuming in the spring, while she wasn’t far away in any races she didn’t win.
With a couple of nice trials under her belt, she’s fit and forward enough to win this week.
| 7. Treasurethe Moment (5) J: Damian Lane 57kg 2234x T: Matt Laurie |
This shapes as an outstanding edition of the Blue Diamond Stakes with what appear to be several stars of tomorrow engaged in the field.
While much of the talk this week has sat with the likes of Big Sky and Guest House, UNIT FIVE is a proven performer that rates as a key chance at nice Blue Diamond Stakes odds ($7.50 at publish).
Unit Five debuted with a dominant performance to win the Magic Millions 2YO race on the Caulfield Heath here in December before progressing to an outstanding performance and victory in the Magic Million Classic on the Gold Coast.
He’s been freshened, trialled up again, and we can have an each way play at the price.
| 1. Unit Five (9) J: Thomas Stockdale 57kg 11 T: Ciaron Maher |
The Oakleigh Plate is always a wide-open affair with a case to be made for many of them, and I am eager to stick with one at odds this week – OAK HILL.
Oak Hill was only just denied in Listed company fresh from a break in January, while we were with him when he hit the line to win the Rubiton Stakes over the route last time out.
The knock is probably barrier 11, but with a favourable run in transit, he’ll be doing his best work late, and he’s certainly an each way chance in a Group 1 of this quality.
| 5. Oak Hill (11) J: Beau Mertens 57kg 02×21 T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
TWO WOLVES chases a hat-trick when he steps out in the last on Blue Diamond Stakes Day.
He clearly needed his first run back from a break when finished well off the pace at Cranbourne in December, but Two Wolves has since recorded a couple of dominant wins at Sandown and on the Caulfield Heath track.
He’s hard fit, drops in the weights and retains Luke Currie.
| 13. Two Wolves (8) J: Luke Currie 54.5kg 5×711 T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |